By Eoin Ee, Tan Su Vien, Cheryl Julia Lee and Liew Hanqing

HE skipped six months of classes when he entered Clementi Town Secondary School.

But Yarasul Bin Yusop (above, with his niece), 16, was no delinquent.

He simply could not afford to go to school.

The school's then vice-principal, Mr Au Yong, paid him a home visit. "The school did not know about my family's financial situation and my VP told me they would help if I came to school," said Yarasul.

"They provided me with free textbooks, and paid for my fees so I could continue with my education."

Yesterday, Yarasul received the results of his N-level technical examinations. He scored two As, two Bs and two Cs - good enough for the office administration or tourism course at the Institute of Technical Education.

Before he received assistance from the school, Yarasul and his mother were surviving on only $300 a month. His mother, Madam Siti Marian, 44, was not working and they were living off his then 21-year-old sister's $900 salary. Yarasul's parents are divorced.

After his return, Yarasul went from the second lowest in Secondary 1 to second in class in Secondary 2.

"I don't want to think of what I would be like now if I had not gone back. I think I would be useless," he said.

Vice-principal Karine Yong said: "He was a very conscientious student... We are very proud of him."

This article was first published in The New Paper on 19 Dec 2008.